AFP
WASHINGTON — The United States Thursday closed its embassy in Bangkok and said it was "very concerned" about the violence between the Thai government and protesters there.
"We're very concerned, we're watching it (the violence) very closely," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters, adding the US embassy was closed to the public because it is near the trouble.
"It is closed and American citizens services will be available for emergencies only... Essential personnel right now are manning the embassy, but it's not open," Crowley said.
"We continue to encourage both sides that violence is not the route to resolve these issues. Ultimately, the government and the demonstrators have to get back together again and reach agreement on the path forward," he said.
"The government has to continue to have a dialogue with the demonstrators and they need to reach an agreement on a path forward," Crowley said.
"There are fundamental fissures within Thai society and the only way to resolve this and to develop a civil and inclusive society is through peaceful negotiation," he said when asked if there is a threat to democracy.
Thai "Red Shirt" protesters clashed with troops in the heart of the capital Thursday, leaving one dead and eight wounded.
The clashes came after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva shelved a plan for November elections and hopes faded for a resolution to a crippling two-month crisis that has sparked periodic violence, leaving 30 people dead and about 1,000 injured.
"We're very concerned, we're watching it (the violence) very closely," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters, adding the US embassy was closed to the public because it is near the trouble.
"It is closed and American citizens services will be available for emergencies only... Essential personnel right now are manning the embassy, but it's not open," Crowley said.
"We continue to encourage both sides that violence is not the route to resolve these issues. Ultimately, the government and the demonstrators have to get back together again and reach agreement on the path forward," he said.
"The government has to continue to have a dialogue with the demonstrators and they need to reach an agreement on a path forward," Crowley said.
"There are fundamental fissures within Thai society and the only way to resolve this and to develop a civil and inclusive society is through peaceful negotiation," he said when asked if there is a threat to democracy.
Thai "Red Shirt" protesters clashed with troops in the heart of the capital Thursday, leaving one dead and eight wounded.
The clashes came after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva shelved a plan for November elections and hopes faded for a resolution to a crippling two-month crisis that has sparked periodic violence, leaving 30 people dead and about 1,000 injured.
6 comments:
that's not a good sign when the US embassy took precaution like this! i though siem country is real asian democracy!
who are you kidding real asian democracy? You mean real asian monarchy?
Aap-Pee-Shit wasn't elected, he was mounted to power by the monarch and the military.
He has no majority support. That is no democracy. Now he acts like a dictator, trying to strangle hold on his power at any cost - Just like Hun Sen. They are brothers in dictatorship.
Why don't the US preach democracy to Thailand ????? like the way they do it to Cambodia. Who has better democracy now, Thailand or Cambodia ????? You know the answer.
To 4:34 AM, you knew the answer to that without being told. Thailand is in much matured democracy. The troop did not kill innocent people indiscriminatorily. They restrained for a long time. Unlike you Hun Sen's troop started shooting since the first dat of demonstration. No doubt about that my friend. If you were in Phnom Penh in 1991 you would know what I meant.
8:14pm, what a lame excuse, nothing more than a bias toward cambodia, really! if you don't know what bias is, your opinion above is a living prove of bias toward cambodia, really!
To 1:35
sorry to tell you the inconvinient truth. Too bad, that's why CBD never learnt from the past.
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